How Much Downtime Should I Expect After Rhinoplasty Surgery?

Recovery following rhinoplasty varies from patient to
patient and depends on several factors. These include the type of procedure
performed, the wound healing characteristics of the patient and the patients’ employment
and social situation.Following
rhinoplasty, patients have several concerns, They want to know when they will
feel better and look good enough to return to public as well as when they can
resume normal and strenuous activities. They also want to know when residual
swelling will disappear and when their final result will be achieved.After rhinoplasty, nasal packing is
usually removed within 24 hours following surgery. When an open rhinoplasty is
performed; sutures are removed five to six days after surgery. External splints
are removed one week following surgery.Most
patients are surprised at how good they feel two to three days following the
surgery. Depending upon their employment and social situations, many patients
don’t feel like going out in public for at least a week. This is primarily due
to the bruising and swelling which accompanies this procedure. This may be more
pronounced if the boney portion of the nose is fractured and narrowed. Most
routine activities are resumed in seven to ten days and strenuous activities
can be resumed in four to six weeks following surgery. Small amounts of
residual swelling may persist for up to one year following rhinoplasty.Patients
typically find the first 24 hours of recovery difficult. Once the nasal packing
is removed they quickly feel better.

The initial swelling will subside in a couple of weeks to a month, then residual swelling may last for up to a year or so. I recommend patients avoid exercising for about 6 weeks, and this includes swimming. They may be able to return to work in about two weeks or so, if it;s a desk job. Of course you should ask your surgeon for their advice as it may be different.However, you'll probably need to wait a couple of months since your work relies on your appearance (although if it's just for your body, then you can return to work in about 2 weeks  or so).

Thank your inquiry and I am glad that you bring up this specific subject that I have been addressing quite often especially with patients in the show business/modeling.Usually, camera readiness after a minor rhinoplasty should range between 1-2 weeks and up to 2-3 months for major changes. However, every patient is different and the
finest cosmetic results in any particular case are based on a variety of
factors, including: the unique anatomy of the patient, realistic expectations,
a well-informed and detailed discussion with your plastic surgeon concerning
the best options for you especially covering a deep understanding of the pros
and cons of any given choice you will adopt.



Please keep in mind that following the
advice from a surgeon online who offers to tell you what to do without a
physical examination covering the nature and the status of the tissue,
assessing your desired outcome, taking a full medical history, and discussing
the pros and cons of each operative solution would not be in your best
interest. With that in mind, it is the safest and for your best interest to
find a plastic surgeon with solid experience and certified by the American
Board of Plastic Surgery who is ideally a member of the American Society of
Plastic Surgeons that you will trust and be comfortable with. You should
discuss your concerns with that surgeon in person.



Good luck!!!



Ali Sajjadian, MD FACS